The General Assembly,
Recognising the importance of maintaining Apiculture and encouraging free trade,
Reaffirming the diverse environments of member nations and their complex ecosystems,
Concerned that GA#224 fails to adequately observe the biodiversity of the bee clade (Anthophila) globally,
Worried that GA#224 explicitly ignores the environmental implications concerning the introduction of non-native bee species, and the harmful effect that introduced species of bees can have on a nation’s wider ecosystem,
Distraught that GA#224 forces member nations to allow the introduction of non-native and potentially invasive species of bees into their nation’s ecosystems, wholly at the discretion of Apiarists,
Observes the implications of GA#224, which requires that all member nations:
- “Allow the importation and exportation of any bees” (Article I, Section II), with no concern for the ecosystems of member nations, and no concern for the welfare of bees. Furthermore, this Article fails to recognise the preferred environment of the bees themselves, who have adapted overtime to their local ecosystems – and whose displacement into an environment with a new ecosystem and different climate could adversely affect their own health.
- “Limit any … customs duties, tariffs, or other taxation [placed] on the international trade in bees, bee-keeping equipment, and/or the products of bee-keeping, to levels that do not exceed taxation on the internal trade in such goods within their borders” (Article II, Section II), with no regard for the diverse economic policies of member nations.
- “Recognise the legal right of people from adjoining nations to reclaim swarms of bees that those people owned within those other nations under those other nations' own laws but that have strayed or even been lured across the international border” (Article IV, Section I), which explicitly provides Apiarists with the ability to avert the border control of member nations – creating a so-called ‘Bee Exemption’ which allows Apiarists to avoid customs officials entirely, in contravention of the border policies otherwise set by WA members.
Understanding the importance of balancing the impact of Free Trade with the Environment of member nations,
Noting the way in which GA#224 completely eschews environmental protections in favour of the Beekeeping Industry, granting Apiarists a free pass to circumvent environmental, economic, and immigration protections,
Observing the dire implications of this lack of consideration for the local environments of member nations and for the welfare of bees themselves,
Hereby repeals GA#224 “Promotion of Bee-Keeping”.
First-time poster, so feel free to leave feedback below. The Resolution concerned in the post can be found at https://www.nationstates.net/page=WA_past_resolution/id=224/council=1.
